Denzel Burke’s homecoming as he struggles with the cornerback depth chart

When Denzel Burke committed to Ohio State in the 2021 recruiting class, he envisioned stardom on the national stage—lockdown coverage, NFL buzz, and championships. Now, heading into the 2025 season, Burke returns home to Arizona with a résumé filled with highs, but also under the shadow of increasing depth chart uncertainty.

What was once a secure role as a starting cornerback is now a high-stakes battle. For Burke, a return to his roots isn’t just nostalgic—it’s personal, and it comes at a time when his football future feels more uncertain than ever.

Burke, a native of Phoenix, Arizona, played at Saguaro High School before transferring to Brophy College Preparatory. Known for his fluid hips, aggressive tackling, and natural instincts, Burke was initially recruited as an athlete. Ohio State coaches quickly transitioned him to cornerback, and by fall 2021, Burke shocked many by starting as a true freshman.

That season, he tallied 12 pass breakups, a key interception, and earned Freshman All-American honors. Burke became an immediate fan favorite in Columbus, blending confidence with swagger and matching up against some of the Big Ten’s most talented wideouts.

But college football is a business, and even stars can find themselves challenged by the emergence of new talent, evolving schemes, and the ever-intensifying competition of high-level recruiting.

After his breakout freshman season, Burke’s play was solid but not spectacular in the seasons that followed. He battled minor injuries, and opposing teams grew more aware of his tendencies. Though he maintained a starting role in both 2022 and 2023, Burke’s name began to slide down draft boards.

Some critics noted that his technique at the line of scrimmage had stagnated. Others questioned his consistency in run support. While he was never bad—far from it—Burke wasn’t the dominant presence many expected after such a promising start.

Despite those critiques, Burke remained a leader in the secondary. Coaches praised his communication, film study, and maturity. In a defense that often relied on young players, his experience became invaluable. Still, with Ohio State’s relentless cornerback recruiting, the margin for error shrank.

Fast forward to spring 2025, and the Buckeyes find themselves with one of the deepest and most competitive cornerback rooms in the country. Freshman phenoms like Devin Sanchez and Aaron Scott Jr. have flashed elite potential. Sophomores Jermaine Mathews Jr. and Calvin Simpson-Hunt are pushing for starter reps after strong 2024 campaigns. Even veteran Jordan Hancock is fighting to stay relevant.

For Burke, the crowded depth chart has created a crucible. Once penciled in as a guaranteed starter, he now finds himself rotating with younger, hungrier teammates in spring practice.

“He’s doing everything right,” defensive backs coach Tim Walton said this spring. “But we’re in a situation where no spot is guaranteed. Denzel knows that, and he’s responding the way a veteran should—with effort and accountability.”

Still, internal competition has consequences. During Ohio State’s spring scrimmage, Burke saw limited snaps with the first-team defense. When he did play, Sanchez was often slotted opposite him. Mathews and Scott rotated in regularly, making it clear the Buckeyes are not married to experience alone.

Ohio State is set to open the 2025 season in Glendale, Arizona, at State Farm Stadium—just a short drive from Burke’s hometown. The highly anticipated non-conference clash with Arizona State will serve as a homecoming for Burke, who has already drawn local media attention.

Friends and family from all over Phoenix are expected to be in attendance. But what should be a triumphant return carries added weight. Burke doesn’t want to simply dress for that game—he wants to start, to make plays, to remind everyone of why he became a household name in the first place.

“I’m coming back to Arizona to prove something,” Burke told reporters after the Buckeyes’ final spring practice. “Not just to others, but to myself.”

The pressure is compounded by the knowledge that NFL scouts will be watching closely. If Burke wants to solidify himself as a Day 1 or Day 2 draft prospect, he must not only win the starting job but also dominate in early-season matchups.

Through it all, Burke has remained composed. Coaches have praised his approach to the competition—not as a threat, but as motivation. He’s taken younger players under his wing, sharing film study tips, offering in-game adjustments, and helping raise the unit’s overall IQ.

“You can’t say enough about what Denzel means to this team,” said head coach Ryan Day. “He’s not just fighting for a job. He’s helping create a standard in our secondary.”

That standard, though, is sky-high.

Ohio State’s defensive back tradition—highlighted by names like Jeff Okudah, Marshon Lattimore, and Denzel Ward—demands excellence. The “Best in America” mantra isn’t handed out with compliments; it’s earned through production.

For Burke, being a vocal leader isn’t enough anymore. He needs results—interceptions, shutdown coverage, pass breakups that flip field position.

This offseason, Burke has worked closely with trainers on improving his footwork and route recognition. He’s also spent time refining his press coverage technique—one area where he sometimes gave too much cushion in 2024.

“I’ve gone back to the basics,” Burke said. “I’m trying to be more aggressive at the line. You can’t play soft and expect to win reps in the Big Ten.”

Physically, he remains in elite condition. At 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, Burke has the ideal frame for an outside corner. He’s added lean muscle to improve his tackling and shed blocks, something NFL evaluators will surely note.

In an era of frequent transfers, especially when playing time becomes uncertain, many speculated that Burke might consider hitting the portal. It wouldn’t have been shocking—a former four-star with starting experience and NFL potential would’ve had suitors instantly.

But Burke stayed.

“I chose to fight,” he said. “Ohio State believed in me, and I believe in myself. I’m not going to run from competition. That’s not who I am.”

NIL has also played a role in his decision to remain in Columbus. Burke is part of several endorsement deals that tie him to the Buckeye brand, and those relationships would have been jeopardized with a transfer. Staying put, both for development and financial reasons, made sense.

The 2025 season will define Denzel Burke’s legacy at Ohio State.

Will he be remembered as the breakout freshman who couldn’t maintain consistency? Or will he reclaim his role, rise above the internal noise, and reestablish himself as a top-tier collegiate corner?

If he succeeds, Burke could not only start in his Arizona homecoming but use that game as a launching pad toward NFL dreams. Scouts will be watching to see how he performs under pressure, how he responds to adversity, and whether he can lead a young but talented secondary through a grueling schedule.

If he struggles, however, the story could shift. A mid-season demotion, injury setbacks, or inconsistent play could push him down the draft board—and perhaps toward the portal after all.

Despite the fierce competition, there is mutual respect in Ohio State’s cornerback room. Players like Sanchez and Mathews credit Burke with teaching them how to prepare like professionals. It’s a unique mix of mentorship and rivalry, where competition sharpens everyone.

“He’s a dog,” Sanchez said of Burke. “That’s a vet who’s seen it all. If I can learn from him and beat him out? That just makes me better.”

It’s a healthy tension. But in Columbus, iron sharpens iron—and only the sharpest get to start.

Denzel Burke’s story isn’t finished—not by a long shot. He still has the tools, the experience, and the opportunity to become the shutdown corner many believed he would be.

But in 2025, nothing will be handed to him.

His homecoming to Arizona isn’t just a sentimental return. It’s a proving ground—a chance to silence doubters, reward his own persistence, and maybe, just maybe, kickstart a final college campaign that reminds everyone why Ohio State bet on him four years ago.